The brain is a tricky thing and something that scientists and medical experts are perplexed by every single day. Your brain is known as the “boss” of your body and controls almost everything you do. Talking, swallowing, tasting, smelling and breathing are all functions that your brain helps regulate, along with the heart rate. When the brain is injured, there may be serious effects to the rest of your body. The result of many injuries and accidents is a traumatic brain injury.
TBI can range from mild to severe. Some may only have a slight concussion while others lose their ability to function on their own. Memory can also be affected with a brain injury. These injuries are caused by many different things.
Most common causes of brain injuries
Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury. From 2006-2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracked the causes of TBI, and falls accounted for over 40 percent of them. Assaults accounted for over 10 percent, motor vehicle traffic was responsible for over 14 percent of injuries while unintentional blunt trauma caused 15.5 percent of the brain injuries during this time. Many other unknown factors accounted for 19 percent of injuries.
Brain injury risk factors
During the same time, the CDC estimates that motor vehicle accidents caused more deaths from injury in those 5-25 years old, assaults were the leading cause for children aged 0-4 and falls caused the most deaths in individuals 65 years and older. These individuals also had the highest rate of traumatic brain injuries overall.
For traumatic brain injuries that did not result in death, men were more likely to be hospitalized for TBI, and falling was the main cause of injury for every age group except those 15-24 years old. This age group had more injuries from assault than anything.
Symptoms of TBI
Brain injuries are very complex and manifest differently in every person. Some common signs and symptoms of brain injuries include the following:
- Irritability and/or no energy
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness and/or balance problems
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Changes in sleep patterns (trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up)
- Difficulty concentrating, thinking clearly and/or retaining new information
In the beginning, you may feel and act fine even with a brain injury, but it often gets worse over time. If you or someone you loved has suffered a brain injury from an accident that was caused by another, you should consult with an attorney immediately to learn more about your rights.
